Hammersmith Health Books

self-harming and suicide due to its prevalence worldwide and as such conducted a great deal of research into the topic and engaged in further training in the area.

Through supporting stressed and distressed teenagers from 12 years upwards, I noticed common themes, presentations, thought processes and struggles which I have come to term ‘self-defeatist syndrome’.

Many came to see me feeling anxious, scared, tired, overwhelmed, angry and isolated, with a very negative view of themselves and their abilities and a great sense of hopelessness and inadequacy.

causes our teenagers to become anxious, angry, hopeless, depressed, and to engage in self-harming; many consider and, unfortunately for some, complete suicide

the death of a loved one through suicide

Sadly, self-defeatist syndrome has proven fatal and resulted in many young people worldwide completing suicide, with devastating consequences for their families and friends.

manner causing him/her to feel alone, depressed, angry, afraid, hopeless and anxious.

Gremlin’s goal is to isolate the teenager from family and friends, thus making itself even more powerful. It wants to make the teenager feel lonely and powerless, surrendering to the darkness, diminishing his/her light and self-esteem, distorting his/her belief system and sense of self.

Its wish and desire is for the teenager to have a defeatist view of him/herself.

Many teenagers have developed poor eating habits and have little understanding of healthy eating and the effect food has on their physical and mental health.